Footboard for switch-engines.



R. E. EVANS.

FOOTBOARD FOR SWlTCH ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

/6 I [NVEN TOR.

R, 1, EVa/zs Patented May 29, 1917..

R. E. EVANS.

FOOTBOARD FOR SWITCH ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a. 1916.

Patented May 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[1V VE N TOR. R f. fwd/7a. BY w I W ROLLO 'E. EVANS, 0F EMPORIA, KANSAS.

'FOO'IBOARD FOR SWITCH-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed September 8, 1916. Serial No. 119,038.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, 'RoLLo E. Evans, a citizen of the United States, residing at Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Footboards for Switch- Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in-the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to foot boards for switch engines, and has for its principal object to provide a foot board of this character, wherein a heating elen'ient is placed in order that snow or rain falling on the board will be prevented from freezing and there by making the footing unsafe and endangering switchmen or others who use the board.

In accomplishing this object I have pro.- vided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of the front portion of an engine equipped with a switch board embodying my invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged detail perspective view of the footboard, parts of which are broken away for better illustration.

Fig. III is a transverse vertical section through the foot board and its supporting member.

Fig. IV' is a detail perspective view showing a portion of the tray and the inlet manifold.

Fig. V is a perspective view of an end manifold showing the drain valve.

Fig. VI is a detail perspective view of the center mainfold.

Fig. VII is a perspective view of one of the spacing spools and an anchor bolt.

Fig. VIII is a plan view of a two section foot board.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a switch engine of the ordinary type, having a steam boiler 2, cyllnders 3, wheels 1 and a bumper beam 5.

Suspended from the beam 5 are hangers 6 preferably four in number, each having its upper end bolted to the beam and the lower end being bent outwardly to form a horizontal supporting portion 7 and turned upwardly at its outer end to form a lip 8.

Seated on the horizontal portions 7 of the hangers and retained thereon by the lips 8 is a foot board 9 embodyingmy invention comprising an inclosing tray 10 of sheet metal construction having a bottom portion 11 and vertical side and end walls 1213 respectively.

Located within the tray and extending longitudinally therewith is a plurality of steam pipes 15, which are connected at their outer ends by manifolds 1617, and which open into a centrally located manifold 18; the manifold 18 being provided at its forward side with a V-shaped indenture to receive the pilot of an engine, which may be coupled to the switch engine, and which is necessary in order to provide the proper clearance for coupling the engines.

Leading from the boiler 2 to the manifold 16 is a steam pipe 20, having a cut-ofl valve 21 adjacent the manifold, whereby steam from the boiler 2 may be admitted to the manifold and distributed to the heating pipes 15, and located at the end of the manifold 17 is a drain valve 23, whereby water formed by thecondensation of steam Within the heating pipes may be drained therefrom.

Overlying the pipes 15 and manifolds 16-17 and 18 and projecting slightly above the tray walls is a tread, comprising a plurality of longitudinally arranged Wooded strips 25, all of which are held rigidly together by spaced tie bolts 26, which extend transversely with the tread strips through alining apertures 27 therein; the strips being spaced by spools 29, which are inserted between the tread strips on the tie rods to provide intermediate passages 28 through which air from the heating pipes may circulate about the tread strips.

As a means for securing the tread within the tray, I provide anchor bolts 31, having U-shaped portions which encircle the spools 29, and have downwardly projecting shanks 32 which extend through the bottom 11 of the tray and have fastening nuts 33 at their outer ends.

In order that water, due to rain or the melting of snow on the foot board, may not collect within the tray, I provide the base 11 thereof with a plurality of perforations 35, through which such water may drunfrom the tray.

I alsoprovide a stop board 37 at the back" side of the tread members, and extend the same above the tread portions sufiiciently that one mounting the board will be prevented from overstepping the tread.

In Fig. VIII I have shown a modified form of construction, wherein a double foot board is provided, the parts in this case being similar in construction to that of the singl board, except that two separate heating units are provided and the tread 1s divided into separated sections. Thlsconstruction eliminates a center manifold and at th same time provides clearance for the pilot of an engine, which may be coupled with the engine equipped with the board.

While I have shown and described the device as a foot board for locomotives, it is also apparent that the device may also be used for a like purpose without departing from the spirit of the invention in combination with the steps of passenger coaches or other vehicles where the steps are exposed to the weather.

Presuming the parts to be so constructed and assembled, in rainy or freezing weather, steam may be admitted to the heating pipes from the boiler 2 by opening the valve 21.

Heat given off from the pipes passes upwardly through the spaces 28, between the strips, keeping the strips dry and preventing ice from forming thereon. At intervals the water formed by condensation of steam within the pipes may be drained therefrom by opening the valve 23, which also will allow a fresh supply of steam to enter the heating pipes.

It will be seen that by so constructing the foot-board a wooden tread is provided, which is in accordance with the law governing the same, and the tread may b kept dry and free from ice, thereby insuring safety to those using the board.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as newtherein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A foot board for locomotives,'comprising a plurality of spaced tread strips, heat ing pipes disposed beneath said tread strips, and means for admitting steam from the locomotive to said heating pipes.

I 2. A foot board for locomotives, comprising a tray, heating pipes located in said tray adapted for receiving steam from the locomotive, and a plurality of spaced tread strips overlying said heating pipes and extending above the tray.

3. In a locomotive, the combination with spaced hangers, of a foot board comprising masses from the locomotive to one of said manifolds, a valve in said pipe, and a valve for draining the heating pipes.

5. In a locomotive, the combination with spaced hangers, of a foot board comprising a tray supported by. said hangers having perforations in its base portion, heating pipes arranged within the said tray having connecting manifolds at their ends, a pipe adapted for admitting steam from said locomotive to one of said manifolds, a drain valvein the opposite manifold, a tread comprising spaced strips overlying said heating pipes and manifold, and extending above the tray sides, and means for fastening said tread strips together and within the tray.

6. In a locomotive, the combination with hangers, of a foot board comprising a tray supported by said hangers and having perforations therein, heating pipes longitudinally disposed in said tray having end con-' necting manifolds and a central manifold having acut-out forward portion, means for admitting steam from said locomotive to the said pipes, a tread comprising spaced strips mounted above said pipes and extending above said tray, tie rods extending transversely through said strips, and means for fastening said tread within said tray.

7. In a locomotive, the combination with hangers, of a foot board comprising a tray supported by said hangers and havlng perforations therein, heating pipes longitudinally disposed in said tray having end connecting manifolds and a central manifold having an indenture in its forward side portion, a pipe for admitting steam from the locomotive to .one of said manifolds, a valve in said pipe, a valve for ,draining said pipes, a tread comprising strips longitudinally mounted above said heating pipes and extending above the tray sides, spacing devices inserted between said strips, tie rods extending transversely through said strips, anchor bolts seated over said spacing devices and fastened to said tray bottom, and a stop board extended above said tread at the back side thereof,

for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

, ROLLO E. EVANS. 

